The 26-year-old, who had a seven-year spell with City from 1998 until 2005, has signed a four-year contract after completing a medical this morning.

Wright-Phillips told City's official website, told mcfc.co.uk: "Obviously I'm delighted to come back to City and I just can't wait to get started again."

Wright-Phillips left City for Stamford Bridge in July 2005, for a fee of £21million.

However, he started only 43 matches for the Blues and became frustrated at a lack of first-team action.

City boss Mark Hughes said: "I've always admired him and he's certainly been a target of mine since I came to the football club.

"To actually secure the deal and bring Shaun back home is a fantastic coup for us and I'm sure the supporters will be just as excited as we are to have him back at Manchester City."

Wright-Phillips is expected to be presented to the media at a press conference at the City of Manchester Stadium tomorrow.

Wright-Phillips is the adopted son of former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright, who said today: "It's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

He said: "The City fans are delighted. It's the first time I've seen him smile properly for ages because he's going to play football again.

"It's such great news, I'm delighted for him. I've spoken at length to Mark Hughes and now I know he's going to be playing regularly.

"He needs to hit the ground running and I think in five games we'll see the Shaun Wright-Phillips that people know.

Wright continued on talkSPORT: "He's not looking to prove anything to anyone - he just wants to play football.

"It's always been the case. Shaun and myself have had arguments on many occasions because he needs to play football and I've wanted him to leave [Chelsea] for ages.

"When he would come around to my house I'd wind him up by showing him videos of himself playing at Manchester City and say 'this is what you used to do, you're not the player you were.'"

On his move to Chelsea three years ago, Wright added: "Chelsea blasted everyone else out of the water and paid £10million more than what Shaun was worth, everybody knows that.

"When that happened you thought 'gosh, they want him really badly.' But it didn't work out.

"I knew he would have to wait to get a chance, you just can't expect it. But then as time went by I thought 'well, how come he hasn't played yet?'

"Then Avram Grant came in and he took on the baton and Shaun still didn't get a chance, they bought more players and he went further down the pecking order.

"How do you think I felt looking at my son at the Champions League final in Russia and he's sat there in a suit?

"I asked Shaun what he wanted to do and he said 'I want to go back to City. That's where I feel comfortable, that's where I want to play and where I know the people love me.'

"His first home game for City is against Chelsea. Funny how it works out."

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